'Ferrari to start '06 with new car
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) For 2006, Ferrari is set to scrap its recent
philosophy of starting the next formula one season with last year's
'old' car.

After a near-barren 2005, and the new V8 engine regulations, the
Maranello based team has decided to kick off next season with the
'F2006' -- which may even be tested as early as next month!

Germany's 'Bild' newspaper even reports that dethroned world champion
Michael Schumacher has agreed to shorten his annual winter holiday
period in order to develop the new V8-powered car.

Predictably, the 36-year-old issued a thrifty denial when asked if the
'paper report was true.

''No,'' Schumacher stated, ''not at all.''

'Nothing's changed' - Alonso
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) Fernando Alonso may be F1's new world champion,
but life for the quiet Spaniard has not changed.

The 24-year-old Renault driver flew from Brazil two weeks ago to
Oxford, where - as per usual - he trained and relaxed.

''I didn't do anything special,'' said Alonso, who secured his first
drivers' crown at Sao Paulo, ''but I enjoyed my time so much. My
family came to see me, some friends, so it was quite easy.

''Nothing's really changed, life keeps going.''

Life does keep going, but when Alonso is Michael Schumacher's age
(36), he is not sure he'll still be wheel-to-wheel in formula one.

''I can imagine that if you go six or seven years with not the best
car,'' Fernando said in Japan, ''you might retire a little bit earlier
than he will.''

Another blow for Kimi
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) For the fourth time in 2005, former title
contender Kimi Raikkonen will have to start a grand prix ten places
too low, after yet another Mercedes engine failure in Japan.

It is, of course, a blow to McLaren's chances of securing the
constructors' championship, but - conceivably - Finland's Raikkonen is
more preoccupied with a different problem. In the last two or three
grands prix, he has been outclassed by teammate Juan Pablo Montoya.

''I think some days he is quicker, other days I am quicker,'' the
25-year-old insisted at Suzuka, ''so I don't think much has changed.''

Colombian Montoya joined McLaren this year but initially struggled
with the car and also broke his shoulder. ''I'm still not 100 per cent
there with the car,' he told ITV, ''but even like that, we are still
beating Kimi.

''It's not easy to beat him, but everybody's human.''

'Schu's still no.1' - rivals
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) F1's title challengers have defended Michael
Schumacher amid gossip that the dethroned champion has lost some of
his speed this season.

Fernando Alonso, who a fortnight ago secured the first non-Schumacher
drivers' title since 1999, said the German 36-year-old 'is still
Michael'.

''The Ferrari has not been as strong and he didn't get the opportunity
to win many races,'' said the Spaniard, ''but for sure next year (he)
will be the favorite again.''

2005 runner-up Kimi Raikkonen agrees that one fruitless year does not
turn the sport's most successful-ever driver into a dawdling peddler.

''People think he is a bit slower than a year ago,'' said the Finn,
''but I don't think that happens to you so quickly.''

JV drives for his F1 career
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) He has a 2006 contract in his pocket, but Jacques
Villeneuve knows he is driving for his career in the final races of
the season.

BMW motor sport director Mario Theissen has not ruled out honoring the
French Canadian's Peter Sauber-signed deal, but says he will keep an
eye on how the 1997 champion performs in Japan and China.

Undoubtedly, Jacques has struggled to keep up with Ferrari bound
teammate Felipe Massa in 2005. First, he said he was struggling with
the Sauber's electrical systems, then the brakes. Now, Villeneuve
points to the tires.

''These 2005 tires are much too hard for my taste,'' he said. ''This
is a problem, particularly in the qualifying.''

JV also admits to finding it difficult to adapt to the cash-efficient
Sauber way - as opposed to the Williams and BAR-Honda way - of going
racing.

But he insisted: ''Sauber has all the potential in place and, with
BMW, also now the money.''

Suzuka set to get wet
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) A warm and dry Suzuka track greeted formula one on
Friday morning, but the weather forecast for the rest of the grand
prix weekend is much more glum.

Saturday, according to the local weather men, could be a wet and
miserable day, although the outlook for Sunday - race day - is
brighter. On Friday afternoon, the sky turned dark.

''I got wet this week,'' Jordan's Indian driver revealed, referring to
Wednesday at the Suzuka track.

''We had a good sample of Japanese rain.''

Schu's note to Alonso
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) Michael Schumacher has written a personal note of
congratulations in the German 'Bild' newspaper to the young man who,
in 2005, has dethroned him -- Fernando Alonso.

''Welcome to the club!'' the 36-year-old Ferrari driver wrote, ''but I
am already looking forward to the next challenge against you and
Kimi.''

Until 2006, Schumacher seems to have given up all hope of making his
Ferrari a match for the McLaren and Renault pace.

He revealed in Japan that the F2005 package, with no new Bridgestone
tire spec, will stay the same as it was in Brazil for the last two
races. But, so long as progress for 2006 is being made behind the
scenes, Schumacher doesn't care. ''Whether I'm third, the fourth
driver (in the championship), does not matter to me.''

So what's the goal for Suzuka? Victory? ''Ok, I don't that that is a
realistic target for us at the moment,'' Michael insisted, ''in fact
we would need a little bit of luck to get onto the podium. A podium is
the maximum to hope for.''

Button's '100:0' statistic
(GMMf1NET -- Oct.7) English driver Jenson Button will notch up a
century (100) of grands prix without a single win.

Set become one of the highest paid formula one stars with his new 2006
Honda deal, the 25-year-old defended himself at Suzuka when faced with
his unspectacular 100:0 statistic.

''I don't look at it like that,'' he told reporters. ''I look at it
that I'm only 25 and yet I've done 100 races.

''There's no point keeping on talking about it. The best thing is for
me to get out there.''

Button and BAR won't, of course, be a pacesetting force around the
Suzuka circuit, even if Honda have unfurled a 'Suzuka special' V10 and
BAR some new suspension.

''We won't get anywhere near McLaren,'' JB agreed, ''but we might get
reasonably close to Renault.''

Copyright 1999-2014 AutoRacing1 is an
independent internet online publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed
by the IRL., NASCAR, FIA, Sprint, or any other series sponsor.
This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without
permission.